Pre-Arrival Information - Summer Term 2021 at Ohio State

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

International Student
Check-In and Orientation

Summer 2021

Dear Future Student

Greetings from the Office of International Affairs at The Ohio State University. While information surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, please know that our highest priority is the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. We are monitoring the global outbreak and are taking appropriate steps to ensure the well-being of the campus community.

Ohio State will continue to be open and classes will take place through a mix of in-person, online and blended teaching during Summer 2021. The Office of International Affairs will conduct International Student Orientation and Mandatory Immigration Check-In virtually. International Student Orientation and Mandatory Immigration Check-In are two separate processes, and students are required to complete both.

Please note that unless the Student and Visitor Exchange Program makes any new announcements, the Department of Homeland Security’s guidance for international students from autumn will remain the same for summer term 2021.

The Office of International Affairs encourages all students to arrive 2-3 weeks before the start of classes on May 12 in order to attend Mandatory Orientation and Immigration Check-In. Students who arrive early will have better course availability, more time to explore Columbus and more opportunities to meet other students.

Over the next few months we will send you weekly emails to help you plan for beginning your academic journey at Ohio State. You may access the archived emails online, under Summer Term.

We look forward to sending you more detailed information in our upcoming pre-arrival emails. In the meantime, please explore our website and answers to frequently asked questions, and you are always welcome to email us at iss@osu.edu.

Learn More

What to Pack

It is very important that you carry your immigration documents on your person when you travel to the United States. Do not pack them in your suitcase!

The documents you want to make sure to keep with you include:

Admission letter to Ohio State
Current passport
Current U.S. visa
Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
SEVIS fee payment receipt
Proof of funding (financial documentation as listed on your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019)

Do not pack fresh fruit, produce, meat, prepared food, spices or plants. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will not allow you to bring these items into the country.

Do pack photos or items that remind you of home, but not those that are irreplaceable.

Do pack extra face masks or coverings (you should also wear one as you travel). At Ohio State and Columbus, masks must be worn in public enclosed or indoor spaces.

Weather in Columbus

Summer (June - August) high temperatures are usually between 75 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 35 degrees Celsius). Winter (December - February) low temperatures usually range from 0 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 17 to 7 degrees Celsius). Spring (March - May) and fall (September - November) temperatures are in between. The summers tend to be humid with occasional thunderstorms. During the winter, Columbus can get a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Additional weather information is available from The Weather Channel. Enter "43210" into the search bar.

Entering the United States

Prior to traveling from your home country to the United States, it is important that you prepare for your inspection at the port of entry (first place of arrival in the United States).

Upon your arrival, an immigration official from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will review a variety of your immigration documents before allowing you to officially enter the United States. This official must be satisfied that you intend to attend the school specified on your F-1 or J-1 visa and/or Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. The immigration official will inspect the documents you present to ensure their authenticity.

Visit the Customs and Border Protection website for a complete overview of what you can expect upon arriving at a U.S. port of entry.

Some airports may require that your passport is stamped at the port of entry, showing the date and place of entry, non-immigrant status (F-1 or J-1) and the 'admitted to' notation (D/S). This information is recorded electronically by CBP, but instead of being given a paper I-94 at the time of entry, you will later be able to print the form yourself by visiting the CBP website at cbp.dhs.gov/I94. Please make sure that your passport is stamped appropriately if the airport requires stamping. You want to see "F-1 D/S" if you are an F-1 student, and "J-1 D/S" if you are a J-1 student. This is a necessary step to confirm your legal immigration status.

Secondary Inspection Requirements

If the inspector cannot automatically verify your information or you do not have all of the required documentation, you may be escorted to an interview area known as "secondary inspection." Secondary inspection allows inspectors to conduct additional research in order to verify information. Verifications are done apart from the primary inspection lines so that an individual case will not cause delays for other arriving passengers.

In the case your admission/participation needs to be verified, we strongly advise that you have readily available the contact information of the Office of International Affairs (OIA) at Ohio State. Immigration coordinators at OIA may be reached Monday through Friday at 614-292-6101 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., (Eastern Time), except during university holidays when our office is closed.

COVID-19 Testing

Air passengers will need to take a viral test within three days of departing to the United States. In order to board an airplane, passengers will need to provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) indicating a NEGATIVE test result. Those who do not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, will be denied boarding by the airline.

Learn more about the required proof of negative COVID-19 test.

Columbus campus students who live in university housing or university-managed facilities must schedule and complete two COVID-19 tests each week as part of the Student Testing Program. Students must schedule their COVID-19 test appointment in advance using MyChart.

Students who live off-campus and plan on taking in-person classes must also schedule and complete two COVID-19 tests each week via MyChart.

An activation email has been sent to you from MyChart_DoNotReply@osumc.edu. If you have difficulties activating your account, call 1-614-366-6975 and press 3 to setup an account. For any questions related to testing, please email shs-covidtesting@osu.edu.

There are a few reasons you may be exempt from the testing program. If you qualify, you must fill out an exemption form. Failure to participate in the testing program or completing the exemption form may result in a directive to quarantine until testing can be completed, loss of access to non-residential spaces and a report to Student Conduct. There will be no direct costs to students participating in testing.

Additional Resources

Visit our website to review information from previous emails and/or answers to frequently asked questions. If you don't find what you're looking for, contact iss@osu.edu.

Please allow us to join the other offices on campus in congratulating you on your acceptance to The Ohio State University.

Kind regards,
Office of International Affairs

2009 Millikin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210

oia@osu.edu

osu.edu

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